With an interior that feels like a cross between the sets of Clue and Downton Abbey, this landmark nine-story “skyscraper” from 1881 is one of the city’s swishest new properties. The English country-house vibe is courtesy of British architect Martin Brudnizki (best known for The Ivy Restaurant in London) who never saw wood paneling he didn’t like. There’s no wasting time here: from the moment you check in at the reception desk, which has been draped in Victorian-inspired carpets, you feel as if you’ve stepped back a century (with the added benefit of WiFi and, we’re guessing, much better mattresses). Upstairs, the rooms have custom-made beds with leather headboards, age oak floorboards, and pops of color like blue ceramic Chinese dragon lamps as well as—possibly ...more...